For all of us who could use a vacation from the political demolition derby in Washington, it is August - Here's the Deal
2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg reacts to the heat as he grills at the Iowa Pork Producers tent at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 13, 2019. Photo by REUTERS/Eric Thayer
It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy. We think of it as a mini-magazine in your inbox.
SUMMER BREAK FOR YOUR (POLITICAL) SOUL
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews ([link removed])
Correspondent
Happily, for all of us who could use a vacation from the political demolition derby in Washington, it is August. And Congress is on recess.
Now, admittedly, we still have a presidential race. So there is not a full break from American politics (nor from Politics Monday ([link removed]) , thankfully).
But we thought this would be a nice moment to pause and provide some mental refreshment. Here are a few recommendations for slower days, geared toward your style of holiday.
For those who miss politics:
* Get facetime with a lawmaker. TheTown Hall Project website ([link removed]) will help you find members of Congress who plan to speak with and hear from the public during recess.
* Find a new, local political blog in an early state. A few to try? In Iowa, the Iowa Starting Line ([link removed]) and the Des Moines Register’sIowa Politics Insider ([link removed]) . In New Hampshire,the 603 ([link removed]) . In Nevada, the Ralston Report ([link removed]) . If you’re interested in South Carolina, we recommend the state newspaper’s “The Buzz.” ([link removed]) (P.S. If you have never clicked onto FiveThirtyEight’s national politics page ([link removed]) , we highly recommend you give it a look.)
* Read a political novel. PBS NewsHour founder Jim Lehrer drew from deep experience in his satirical “The Last Debate” ([link removed]) about a debate moderator and a group of reporters who discover damaging information about one candidate in a key election moment. We also recommend “The People’s Choice,” ([link removed]) which happens to be written by another NewsHour icon, Jeff Greenfield. It revolves around an election thrown into chaos when the president-elect dies before the electoral college is seated. One more: The all-time classic“I, Claudius” ([link removed]) by Robert Graves, about win-or-die political plotting in ancient Rome.
* Read a political tell-all. It is out of print, but we can vouch that it is worth finding an old copy of “Fishbait: The Memoirs of the Congressional Doorkeeper ([link removed]) .” The man who held many of the keys to the corridors of Capitol power tells all and names names, with a jocular and sharp wit.
* Make your own campaign button. Dozens of online sites offer this service (for a fee). But check it out. Here are two: PureButtons.Com ([link removed]) , and ImageChef.Com ([link removed]) . If you want to run an actual campaign, but keep it DIY, AmericanButtonMachines offers this homemade button making machine ([link removed]) .
For those who want no politics:
* Get to know a worldwide summer 2019 hit. Among the possibilities: “Con Altura” ([link removed]) (“With Height”) by Rosalia, Vampire Weekend’s “Harmony Hall” ([link removed]) and Bruce Springsteen channeling Bob Dylan a little on “Hitch Hikin ([link removed]) .” And of course we need to mention two artists dominating the summer - here are links to Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” ([link removed]) and Lizzo’s “Juice.” ([link removed]) We should warn that Lizzo does use a word that we avoid on NewsHour. It rhymes with “itch.”
* Read. Check out our colleagueJeffrey Brown’s summer reading list ([link removed]) full of great recommendations outside of politics.
* Find a vista and look out ([link removed]) . This is our personal plan for detoxing after a wild year. (And ahead of another.)
TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION RULE COULD HIT YOUNG AMERICANS’ HEALTH
By Laura Santhanam
Data Producer
The Trump administration is scaling back public benefits for immigrants who are in the U.S. legally, but doing so may negatively affect the health and wellness of young American citizens, according to analysts.
According to the rule, which is built off a 1996 law passed by Congress, if an immigrant applies for citizenship or a green card and is determined to need public benefits, that person could have their request rejected.
The change is expected to crater health and nutrition participation among immigrant families with children who are U.S. citizens and thereby legally entitled to receive services, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. More than 19 million children live with an immigrant parent in the United States. That’s one out of four children nationwide and most of them — 86 percent — are citizens.
Read the full story here ([link removed]) .
FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Alexandra D’Elia, @ ([link removed]) Alex_DElia11 ([link removed])
Politics production assistant
Gabbard will take 2-week break from 2020 campaign for National Guard duty ([link removed]) -- Aug. 12. Hawaii Representative and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is reporting for duty in Indonesia where she will do joint training exercises in counterterrorism, humanitarian aid and disaster response. Why it matters: On the campaign trail, Gabbard has emphasized her military experience as a key qualification to be commander in chief. -- Politico
A lesson for Equinox and SoulCycle: Even sweat can be political ([link removed]) -- Aug. 9. High-end fitness brands Equinox and SoulCyle were forced to distance themselves from a key investor who was hosting a big ticket fundraiser for President Donald Trump, to the dismay of many customers. Why it matters: The story highlights political divisiveness in unexpected industries as campaign fundraising picks up ahead of the 2020 presidential election. -- The New York Times
Schumer to ask Trump to redirect $5 billion in wall funding to gun initiatives ([link removed]) -- Aug.13. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to ask President Donald Trump to boost funding in countering violent extremism, investigation domestic terrorism, and gun violence research. Why it matters: Democrats continue to press the White House and GOP congress members to move on gun control following the recent mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. -- The Washington Post
Bank of America raises chance of a recession to 1-in-3 in the next 12 months ([link removed]) -- Aug. 12. Bank of America’s global economist puts the risk of a recession hitting in the next year at 30 percent, sparked partly by the “policy ping pong” of the U.S.-China trade war and a slowing global economy. Why it matters: A recession would hurt U.S. businesses and consumers and damage President Trump’s biggest selling point for his reelection -- the strong economy. -- CNBC
In Iowa, Pete Buttigieg releases new policy to help rural America ([link removed]) -- Aug. 13. Days after rolling out a rural health care plan, the candidate’s newest plan includes investments in high-speed internet, immigration, climate change, teacher pay and more. Why it matters: Democratic presidential candidates have been flooding the Iowa State fair to woo voters ahead of the early Iowa primaries. -- Des Moines Register
#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke ([link removed]) and Lisa Desjardins
On this day in 1918, women enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps for the first time.
Our question: What was the first branch of the U.S. military to allow women to enlist?
Send your answers to or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.
Last week, we asked: What was the third political party created by a presidential candidate in 1912? The answer is the Progressive Party, also known as the Bull Moose Party, created of course by Theodore Roosevelt who said he felt “as strong as a Bull Moose.” Roosevelt did this after splitting from the Republican Party, following a rift that revolved in large part around tariffs. His Bull Moose Party managed to win a handful of Congressional seats, but went 0-2 in presidential elections while it existed.
Congratulations to our winner: Lorna Grenadier!
Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your inbox next week.
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** How U.S. citizens’ health could suffer under Trump’s new rule aimed at immigrants ([link removed])
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